General FAQs
What can I expect from my first visit to Wholeness Center?
Initial visit lengths are practitioner dependent but can vary from forty-five minutes to one and a half hours, at which time your team member will take a detailed history of your health concerns. They may choose to do a physical exam, explore a therapeutic counseling session, order lab work or other tests. If you have already had tests done you may choose to bring a copy of them with you. Some natural medications or supplements may be prescribed and a treatment plan will be devised at this time.
Learn more about the Wholeness Method
Do you take insurance?
Currently we are not able to submit directly to insurance on your behalf. However, we provide a superbill and an invoice needed to self submit to insurance. Practitioners may order lab work and this is often covered by insurance plans without the need to self submit.
Can I make an appointment online through the ChARM electronic patient portal?
Yes, for participating providers at Wholeness. Online scheduling can be completed using our online patient portal. Additionally appointments may be scheduled over the phone- please call our office to schedule your appointments at 970-221-1106. We have in person, virtual and phone visits available.
I love what you are doing. Is there any way that I can support your efforts?
We have a federally approved non-profit, the Foundation for the Whole Child. This has 501(c)3 status that makes your donations tax deductible. In the short term, we will use these funds to offer scholarships to individuals of all ages for treatment at Wholeness Center.
Please contact us at 970-221-1106 to make a donation. We very much appreciate any support that you can offer, as we want to be part of the safety net for our community.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to change an appointment please call our front office and they will assist you.
If you have a last-minute change, we do require one full business day (24 hours) notice for follow-up appointments and two full business days (48 hours) for new patient visits to cancel or reschedule. If we do not receive this notice prior to your appointment there will be a fee assessed.
What ages do you see?
We see individuals of all ages! Our staff is well-balanced and includes child, adolescent and adult psychiatrists/ psychiatric nurse practitioners, naturopathic doctors, and therapists. We pride ourselves on being a family-oriented practice towards mental health concerns.
Are you a psychedelic clinic?
Psychedelic medicine is an exciting, innovative therapy that may be appropriate for some individuals. If needed, psychedelic treatment can offer some individuals an option for transformative care. We are not and will never be an exclusively psychedelic center. These powerful medicines are merely a tool to help support some and do not substitute for comprehensive assessment and complete care. Our approach to new modalities is a balanced approach that assesses safety and the power to support your path to wholeness. For example, ketamine employs the same basic approach as psychedelics by supporting an inward journey We have been working with this medicine since 2015. Also, we are one of the 13 sites in the world researching the value of MDMA in addressing trauma. Wholeness is a national leader in this element of innovative mental health care.
Why do you do collaboration assessments?
We are all complex beings, and we would be foolish to state we would know exactly how you would respond to treatment just by meeting you one time. Collaboration visits are designed to bring experts in different aspects of mental health together so that we can build a plan together that is the most supportive for you with the most information to inform our decisions.
Ketamine FAQs
What is ketamine and how does it work?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic commonly used in hospitals and medical settings. First synthesized in 1956, ketamine was employed during the Vietnam War for surgical procedures and was approved for medical use by the FDA in 1970. In recent years, clinical researchers have discovered a range of additional applications for ketamine to treat psychological and medical conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use issues and chronic pain.
Ketamine appears to work by targeting the NMDA receptors in the brain, providing rapid and significant relief from mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Research has shown that ketamine enhances the production of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) resulting in its antidepressant effects. BDNF also promotes neuroplasticity, helping your brain learn and adapt to break free from “stuck” patterns of mood, thought, and behavior.
What conditions can ketamine treat?
Studies show that ketamine can be effective in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and PTSD. Some people also seek ketamine treatment for psychological and spiritual exploration to gain a broader perspective on life and spirituality.
Is ketamine safe?
Yes. Ketamine is widely used as an anesthetic agent in medical practice, both in the US and around the world. It is regarded as extremely safe with minimal risks of cardiac issues or respiratory depression. Furthermore, the doses of ketamine provided during treatments at Wholeness Center are far below the levels used safely for anesthetic purposes.
We believe ketamine is the best compound to introduce someone to psychedelic medicine due to its high safety profile and anxiety reducing effect. Most people experience a sense of calm and safety during ketamine treatment, which makes this an ideal medicine for someone trying a psychedelic for the first time.
Is ketamine addictive?
In the dosages and frequency of administration we utilize for treatments at Wholeness Center, ketamine does not pose any concerns for addiction. We carefully monitor all patients for tolerance and continually assess responses to treatment to optimize the benefits of ketamine in your care.
How quickly does ketamine work?
Ketamine’s rapid response rate is one of its most significant advantages over SSRIs and other mental health treatment approaches. People will often notice benefits in a matter of hours, as opposed to weeks or months for other pharmacological treatments. Studies show that ketamine can facilitate acute reduction of depression, suicidality, and anxiety symptoms in patients within a day or two of treatment.
What is the difference between ketamine treatment and KAP?
As ketamine grows in popularity as a mental health treatment, ketamine infusion centers have become very common. These settings are often medicalized, providing ketamine in sterile environments without attention to variables such as “set and setting” which have been shown to promote greater healing in psychedelic therapy.
At Wholeness Center, we believe that ketamine is best utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy in a model called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). This approach takes advantage of ketamine’s ability to promote deeper states of self-awareness and accelerates its healing potential. In KAP treatments, patients collaborate with a therapist to better prepare for and understand the insights that typically arise during ketamine sessions. Additionally, KAP treatment emphasizes the importance of integration for optimal benefits. Integration helps you make sense of what you learn in ketamine sessions and apply these insights to make positive and lasting changes in your life. We are proud to offer KAP as a unique and transformative treatment for our patients.
What can I expect when starting KAP treatment at Wholeness Center?
Before you can begin ketamine treatment, you must first meet with one of our medical providers for an intake appointment. During this visit, we will explore the issues you are struggling with and evaluate your medical and psychological history to ensure you are a good fit for ketamine.
If you are approved for treatment, you will be recommended to meet with a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy provider for a preparation session. This is an important step in the process to learn about how KAP treatment works and what to expect during the KAP sessions, as well as to build a sense of safety and trust with your therapist. Your therapist will collaborate with you on a treatment plan involving a series of KAP sessions along with integration sessions, based on your medical provider’s recommendations.
Integration is a vital component of KAP treatment. During these sessions, your therapist will work with you to help process your experience and take steps to make positive changes in your life. Integration sessions follow ketamine medicine sessions within two to five days to take advantage of the neuroplasticity that ketamine engenders in the brain—the ability to create new habits and break free from “stuck” thought patterns and emotional responses. This is the “therapy” part of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and we believe it is the pivotal aspect of KAP that enables people to find sustained benefits and deep personal transformation from ketamine treatment.
Does ketamine have any side effects?
Some people may experience side effects from ketamine treatment. These are typically mild and transient, wearing off within a few hours following treatment. A few people may experience side effects that can include nausea and elevated heart rate or blood pressure. You will be carefully screened for underlying medical concerns prior to taking ketamine to ensure you are a good fit for this treatment. As needed, anti-nausea and antihypertensive medications may be administered to prevent or reduce any side effects.
Ketamine produces a feeling of disconnection from one’s body and a non-ordinary state of consciousness. This may be experienced as distortions in perception, time, and sense of self. We believe these effects are integral to the psychotherapeutic potential of ketamine, freeing you from typical thought patterns and providing a “break” from your usual state of being. KAP treatment often involves exploration of the novel sensory, emotional, and cognitive material that may arise during a ketamine session, which may provide useful insights to learn from and integrate into your daily life.
How is ketamine administered?
Wholeness Center provides ketamine via three different routes of administration: Intravenous line (IV), Intramuscular injection (IM), and Sublingual (Oral). Learn more about Ketamine administration
What else sets Wholeness Center apart from other ketamine providers?
In addition to being the leading clinic in Northern Colorado offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Wholeness Center provides a range of integrative mental health services that synergize with ketamine therapy. We understand that well-being—both mental and physical—is a holistic process. As such, our team of providers will collaborate with you to address all the components of your health and wellness, from diet and lifestyle to psychology and cognitive functioning. We combine treatments such as neurofeedback, nutritional supplementation, and intravenous nutritional therapy that enhance the brain remodeling effects of ketamine and provide optimal results for your care.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of recommended ketamine or KAP sessions depends on your specific treatment needs. Generally, patients receiving ketamine treatment will need 6 to 8 sessions. For those struggling with chronic, treatment-resistant depression or severe suicidality, 6 or more sessions of ketamine or KAP treatment is often required to see sustained benefits. Patients challenged by chronic anxiety, OCD, or PTSD may require 8 or more sessions to find relief from their symptoms.
Some people may return for occasional booster sessions every few months to maintain these benefits. These numbers are an estimate and may vary person to person based on your specific needs and treatment response over time. For those engaging in KAP treatment, additional preparatory and integration sessions will be involved as recommended by your therapist.
Psychedelic Therapy FAQs
What conditions or diagnosis does psychedelic therapy / psychedelic harm reduction therapy treat?
Ultimately the therapist or clearance Doctor will determine if this is an appropriate therapy. It has been studied in addictions, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, just to name a few.
How many psilocybin sessions will I need?
This may vary depending on the individual, but 1-3 sessions is a good estimate from our current information.
How long are the effects of psilocybin?
The immediate effects range from 3-8 hours depending on individual metabolism, past use of psychedelics and dose ingested. The long-term beneficial effects can sustain weeks to months or longer. Especially when combined with various forms of therapy and other interventions including lifestyle medicine, herbal medicines and nutraceuticals (supplements).
Why psilocybin vs. ketamine or other psychedelics? or other therapies?
Your care team will determine which therapy may be the most beneficial for you. This may also include the order of therapies and the additional integrative supports needed to support your return to Wholeness. Both ketamine and psilocybin are indicated for depression, PTSD, and addictions.
Is this therapy used to treat alcoholism or other addictions?
Addictions in addition to alcohol can be treated with psilocybin. We highly recommend a comprehensive support program for addictions. Research indicated that these medicines are anti-addictive and support the insight and commitment needed for true recovery.
Do the mushrooms come from a trusted source/where are we getting them from?
Wholeness does not source the mushrooms and we do not sell mushrooms. However, we are working with a non-profit organization that sources the mushrooms from a reputable grower that tests for both purity and contaminants. This non-profit provides the mushrooms without charge in a harm reduction model.
What is the scheduling process, who do I schedule with?
The initial step is to schedule with a therapist or one of our doctors to assess your situation. This team will help determine if this therapy is appropriate for you.